Azalea plant named &#39;RLH1-7P14&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Azalea plant named ‘RLH1-7P14’, characterized by its compact, upright to outwardly spreading and rounded plant habit; freely basal branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; evergreen, persistent dark green-colored leaves that do not abscise during the winter; freely flowering habit with remontant flowering during the spring, summer and autumn; large, non-persistent single flowers that are light red purple in color with darker red purple-colored central spots and speckles; excellent garden performance and temperature tolerance.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

Rhododendron hybrida

CULTIVAR DENOMINATION

‘RLH1-7P14’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Azalea plant, botanically known as Rhododendron hybrida, commercially referred to as an evergreen Azalea plant and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘RLH1-7P14’.

The new Azalea plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Long Creek, Oconee County, S.C. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact evergreen Azalea plants having dense growth habit, large attractive flowers, flowers with good temperature tolerance, consistent remontant flowering during the spring, summer and autumn, good garden performance and low and high temperature tolerance.

The new Azalea plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventors in 1996 in Long Creek, Oconee County, S.C., of a proprietary selection of Rhododendron hybrida identified as code number RLH-1600-AC, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Rhododendron hybrida ‘Watchet’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Azalea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Long Creek, Oconee County, S.C. in 2000.

Asexual reproduction of the new Azalea plant by semi-hardwood stem cuttings taken in a controlled greenhouse environment in Long Creek, Oconee County, S.C. since 2005 has shown that the unique features of this new Azalea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Azalea have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘RLH1-7P14’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘RLH1-7P14’ as a new and distinct Azalea plant:

1. Compact, upright to outwardly spreading and rounded plant habit.

2. Freely basal branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.

3. Evergreen, persistent dark green-colored leaves that do not abscise during the winter.

4. Freely flowering habit with remontant flowering during the spring, summer and autumn.

5. Large, non-persistent single flowers that are light red purple in color with darker red purple-colored central spots and speckles.

6. Excellent garden performance and temperature tolerance.

Plants of the new Azalea differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Azalea are more spreading than and not as upright as plants of the female parent selection.

2. Plants of the new Azalea have larger flowers than plants of the female parent selection.

3. Plants of the new Azalea and the female parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have darker red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Azalea differ primarily from plants of the male parent, ‘Watchet’, in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Azalea are more spreading than and not as upright as plants of ‘Watchet’.

2. Plants of the new Azalea have larger flowers than plants of ‘Watchet’.

3. Plants of the new Azalea and ‘Watchet’ differ in flower color as plants of Watchet' have light salmon pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Azalea can be compared to the plants of ‘Robleg’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,227. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Long Creek, Oconee County, S.C., plants of the new Azalea differed primarily from plants of ‘Robleg’ in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Azalea were more uniform in plant shape and required less pruning than plants of ‘Robleg’.

2. Plants of the new Azalea were more freely flowering than plants of ‘Robleg’.

3. Flower petals of plants of the new Azalea were more ruffled and undulate than flower petals of plants of ‘Robleg’.

4. Plants of the new Azalea and ‘Robleg’ differed in flower color as plants of ‘Robleg’ had white-colored flowers.

5. Plants of the new Azalea flowered during the spring, summer and autumn whereas plants of ‘Robleg’ only flowered during the spring and autumn.

6. Plants of the new Azalea were more cold hardy than plants of ‘Robleg’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Azalea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Azalea plant. Plants used for the photographs were grown during the late summer in one-liter containers in a shady outdoor nursery in Long Creek, Oconee County, S.C. and under cultural practices which approximate commercial Azalea production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 0° C. to 45° C. and night temperatures ranged from −17° C. to 38° C. Plants were 1.5 years old when the photographs were taken. The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘RLH1-7P14’. The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘RLH1-7P14’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the late summer in three-gallon containers in a shadehouse in El Campo, Tex. and under cultural practices which approximate commercial Azalea production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 24° C. and night temperatures averaged 14° C. Plants were one year old when the detailed description was taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Rhododendron hybrida ‘RLH1-7P14’. -   Commercial classification: Evergreen Azalea. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Rhododendron hybrida identified as code number RLH-1600-AC,             not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Rhododendron hybrida ‘Watchet’, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By semi-hardwood stem cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 25 to 30 days at             temperatures of 27° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 35 to 45 days at             temperatures of 16° C. to 17° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 60 to 70             days at temperatures of 27° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 80 to             100 days at temperatures of 16° C. to 17° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; initially white in color             becoming light brown with development.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form, plant and growth habit.—Perennial and evergreen             flowering subshrub; compact, upright to outwardly spreading             and rounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit; rapid growth             rate; freely flowering habit with numerous single flowers.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about four to             six basal branches developing on one year old plants; dense             and bushy appearance; pinching (removal of terminal apex)             enhances lateral branch development.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of flowers.—About 35 cm to             50 cm.         -   Plant diameter, area of spread.—About 30 cm to 40 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 5 cm to 20 cm.             Diameter at base: About 2 mm to 5 mm. Diameter at apex:             About Internode length: About 3 mm to 19 mm. Strength:             Strong. Aspect: Upright and outwardly positioned. Texture,             developing: Pubescent, fine greyed orange-colored hairs.             Texture, mature: Woody; pubescent, fine greyed             orange-colored hairs. Color, developing: Close to 145B.             Color, semi-hardwood: Close to 145A becoming close to 165A             to 165B with development. Color, mature: Close to 165A.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Leaf             retention: Very good winter leaf retention has been observed             on plants of the new Azalea. Length: About 3 cm to 6.5 cm.             Width: About 1 cm to 2.5 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate to             elliptic. Apex: Subacute; mucronulate. Base: Cuneate to             attenuate. Margin: Entire; slightly revolute; ciliate.             Venation pattern: Pinnate; reticulate. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Pubescent; coriaceous, tough. Color:             Developing leaves, upper surface: Between 137A and 139A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138A. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A; venation,             close to 138B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 137C; venation, close to 151A. Petioles: Length: About 6             mm to 10.5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm to 1.6 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color: Developing             leaves, upper surface: Close to N144D. Developing leaves,             lower surface: Close to N144D. Fully expanded leaves, upper             surface: Close to 138B. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 151A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Natural flowering season.—Spring, April to May, and then             remontant flowering during the summer and autumn, July to             October or until frost in USDA Hardiness Zone 6.         -   Flower appearance and arrangement.—Single flowers arranged             upwardly to outwardly in clusters at terminals and             sub-terminals; single whorl of five petals.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with usually about             one to three flower buds and three to six flowers per             cluster.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers are durable and long-lasting;             depending on the temperature, flowers last about five to ten             days on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower diameter.—About 10 cm to 11 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 4 cm to 4.5 cm.         -   Flower buds (before showing color).—Length: About 1 cm to             1.5 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm to 7 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Color:             Close to 137D.         -   Petals.—Length: About 3 cm to 3.5 cm. Width: About 3 cm to             3.5 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate to orbicular. Apex: Rotund;             undulate. Margin: Entire; undulate. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; rugulose; waxy to velvety in             appearance. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 68B             to 68C; central spots and speckles, close to 68A. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 68B to 68C. Fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 68B to 68C; spots and speckles,             close to 68A; color becoming closer to 68B to 68C with             development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 68B to             68C; color becoming closer to 68B to 68C with development.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Five in a single whorl, fused at the             base forming a campanulate to star-shaped corona. Length:             About 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Width: About 3.5 mm to 4 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Subulate. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire;             slightly revolute; ciliate. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Densely pubescent. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 143C; central blotch and streaks, close             to 60D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2 mm to 4 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm             to 4 mm. Angle: Mostly upright. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Pubescent. Color: Close to 145A; at maturity, close to 164A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Diameter: About 1.5             mm to 2 mm. Angle: Upright to outwardly. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 60D; towards the base,             close to 145B; becoming closer to N144A with development.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity of stamens per             flower: About ten. Filament length: About 3.5 cm to 4.5 cm.             Filament color: Close to 67B. Anther shape: Porandrous with             four oblong, tubular to lunate-shaped pollen sacks basifixed             to the filament. Anther length: About 2.5 mm to 3 mm. Anther             color: Close to N186C. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen             color: Close to 158B. Gynoecium: Pistil length: About 4.5 cm             to 5 cm. Stigma shape: Round to flattened (capitate). Stigma             color: Close to N79B. Style length: About 4.4 cm to 5.9 cm.             Style color: Close to 61B. Ovary color: Close to 143B.         -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed development have not been             observed on plants of the new Azalea. -   Garden performance & temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Azalea     have been observed to be very tolerant to rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about −25° C. to about 45° C.; and plants     of the new Azalea are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 6 to 9. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants have not been observed to be     resistant to pathogens and pests common to Azalea plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Azalea plant named ‘RLH1-7P14’ as illustrated and described. 